Refrigerator-latch.



J. H. STANFIELD.

REFRIGERATOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.22. 1917.

JASPER. n. STANFIELD, or GRAND Barrios, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF arc rnann c. PANGBORN, or GRAND RAPIDS, rarcnrean.

REFRIGERATOR-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jane 12, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JASPER I-I. STANFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerator-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in spring latches, and more especially in latches for use upon refrigerator doors, and its objects are: first, to provide a latch that will be absolutely positive in its action, and may not be too easily disconnected from its catch; second, to provide a latch of the kind mentioned that will automatically secure itself in such a manner that the refrigerator. door will be held firmly in place and no looseness may be left between the latch and its catch, and, third, to provide a means whereby the latch will be held positively opened or closed, as desired. 7

I attain these objects by the mechanism and peculiar distribution of elements shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the latch and catch in natural engagement. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the latch and its containing case on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a back elevation of the latch and its containing case, and Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the catch with the latch shown in section in normal contact relation withthe catch.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the several views shown in the drawing.

In the construction of this latch I provide a containing case 1 which has a bearing post f extending backward from its front wall, to which the latch 33 is pivoted, by the use of a screw 6, or other available device,

so the latch may be made to move, pivotally,

thereon. The front end of this case is slotted as at e for the free passage and operation of the end 3 of the latch, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, and the back end of the case has an opening for the passage of the end of the actuating slide 4:, as indicated in said Figs. 1 and 3. The actuating slide 4 is so placed and arranged that the spring 6,bearing at one end against the back end of the case 1 and at the other end against any suitable bearing surface, as the plate 5, will force the end of the slide firmly into the notch y' in the back end of the latch body 3, as indicated in Fig. 3. I prefer that a hearing plate, as L", be placed between one end of the slide 4 and the latch body 3, and a rocking bearing plate, as 12, be placed between the other end of the spring and the back end of the case 1, so that the movement and action of the slide and the spring 6 may be as free from friction as possible.

I provide for actuating the latch 3 by pivotally mounting a lever or handle, as 2, to the outer surface of the casing 1, as at a, and passing an angled arm, as 10, therefrom through a slot 6 in the casing and a hole 11 in the body 3' of the latch in such a position and manner that when the lever is thrown to the position indicated by the solid lines in Fig. 2 the latch 3 will be carried into, and held in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, or the solid lines in Fig. 3, and when the lever is carried into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 the latch willbe carried into the position indicated by its solid lines in Fig. 1, or its dotted lines in Fig. 3, and it is held firmly in either position by carrying the end of the slide 4 to one side or the other of a direct line through the center of the case 1, as indicated by its solid lines, and its dotted lines in Fig. 3. I prefer that the slide be so set that the pressure of the spring 6 will be much greater against the action of the lever 210 when the latch is in the position indicated in Fig. 1, than it is when the latch is in the position indicated in Fig. 3, as this .is necesssary to insure proper and perfect action of the eccentric 8, to be hereinafter more fully described.

The catch 7 is made practically of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 1, and when the latch 3 is in the position indicated by its dotted lines in Fig. 1, it will pass freely into the space 9, between the points it and i, the lever 2 being in the position indicated by its solid lines in Fig. 2, and when the lever is thrown back into the position indicated by its dotted lines in Fig. 2 the latch will be thrown forcibly downward into the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 4c, and will force the arm 13, of the eccentric 14 downward with such force as to force the eccentric 14 firmly against the side of the latch 3, thus forcing the door firmly in place and safely locking the latch between the eccentric and the opposite wall 7 against the end of the latch,

of the catch-7, as plainly indicated in Fig.

4, thus averting any possible danger of.

the latch rattling in the catch when properly connected therewith. The eccentric 14 is pivotally connected with'the outer arm; of the catch 7, as indicated at 0, and is provided with a projection 8, properly located to insure the return ofthe eccentric into its normal position, 11, by gravity, as soon as the latch 3 1s thrown into the position indicated by its dotted lines in Fig. 1, or its solid lines in Fig. 3.

The lugs m, m, and the screw holes n, n are designed to receive screws for securing the latch case, and the catch, respectively, to the refrigerator door and door casing, not here shown as they constitute no part of my present invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a refrigerator latch, a casing,- a latch located longitudinally of the casing and pivotally connected therewith, said latch, having a notch in the back end, a slide mounted longitudinally of the casing and made to engage the end of the latch in the notch, a spring arranged to force the slide firmly a catch mounted in connectionwith said latch, an eccentric pivotally mounted on the catch, and means connected with the eccentric whereby it will be made to clamp the latch by the action of the latch upoiithe catch.

2. In arefrigerator latch, a casing, a latch pivotally mounted in said casing and having a notch in the back end thereof, means for holding said latch firmly in desired positions, a lever pivotally mounted on the casing and arran ed to throw the latch into unlocking and 100 ing positions, a catch connected with said latch, an eccentric pivotally mounted on the catch, an arm made integral with the eccentric in position to be engaged by the latch to actuate the eccentric to clamp the latch firmly in place.

3. In combination with a refrigerator latch, a catch, an eccentric pivotally mounted on the catch and arranged to be engaged by the latch and clamp the latch firmly in place between the eccentric and the wall of the catch.

4. In combination with a refrigerator latch, a spring actuated slide arranged to hold the latch temporarily in desired positions', a catch in position to receive the latch, an eccentric pivotally mounted on the catch and having an arm projection therefrom in position to be engaged by the latch to actuate the eccentric, and means for returning said eccentric into normal position by force of gravity, when released from the latch.

5. In combination, a refrigerator latch, a catch, an eccentric pivotally mounted on the catch and arranged to be actuated by the latch to clamp the latch in place, and means for returning the eccentric into normal position when released from the latch.

Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, January 20, 1917.

JASPER H. STANFIELD. 

